Talk:Sixteen elements of Nyāya

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Sixteen elements of Nyāya

These sixteen elements of nyāya are as follows:

  1. Pramānaṃ - It is the means of valid knowledge.
  2. Prameyaḥ - It means the object of right knowledge.
  3. Saṃśayaḥ - It means doubt.
  4. Prayojanaṃ - It means the motive.
  5. Dṛṣṭāntaḥ - It means the illustrations.
  6. Siddhāntaḥ - It means the demonstrated truth.
  8. Tarkaḥ - It means the reasoning and confutation.
  9. Nirṇayaḥ - It means discernment.
  10. Vādaḥ - It means discussion.
  11. Jalpaḥ - It means disputation.
  12. Vitaṇḍā - It means cavil or objection.
  13. Hetvābhāsaḥ - It means fallacious reasoning.
  14. Chalaḥ - It means the casuistry or unfair reasoning.
  15. Jātiḥ - It means futile rejoinder.
  16. Nigraha-sthānaṃ - It means clinchers.


प्रत्यक्षानुमानोपमानशब्दाः प्रमाणानि।[5]
Pratyakha- anumāna- upamāna- śabdāḥ pramāṇāni[6]


According to Nyāya tradition, there are four pramāṇāni namely:

  1. Pratyakhaṃ
  2. Anumānaṃ
  3. Upamānaṃ
  4. Śabdāḥ


Cārvāka Perception/Pratyakṣaṃ - - - - - - -
Mīmāmsaka Verbal Testimony/Śabdaḥ - - - - - - -


आत्मशरीरेन्द्रियार्थबुद्धिमनःप्रवृत्तिदोषप्रेत्यभावफलदुःखापवर्गाः तु प्रमेयम् ।[11]


  1. Ātmā - It is denoted by self.
  2. Śarīraṃ - It is represented by body.
  3. Indriyaṃ - It is called as senses.
  4. Arthaḥ - It is known as experiences.
  5. Buddhiḥ - It is denoted as intelligence.
  6. Manaḥ - It is known as intellect.
  7. Pravṛttiḥ - It is defined as activity.
  8. Doṣaḥ - It is known as imbalances.
  9. Prētyabhāvaḥ - It is called as re-birth.
  10. Phalaṃ - It is known as consequences.
  11. Duḥkhaṃ - It is called as suffering.
  12. Apavargaḥ - It is defined as liberation.



समानानेकधर्मोपपत्तेः विप्रतिपत्तेः उपलब्ध्यनुपलब्ध्यव्यवस्थातः च विशेषापेक्षः विमर्शः संशयः।[13]
Samānānēkadharmōpapattēḥ vipratipattēḥ upalabdhi- anupalabdhi- avyavasthātaśca viśēṣāpēkṣaḥ vimarśaḥ saṃśayaḥ।[14]

Doubt must not be confused with error or false knowledge. Doubt is just the incomplete knowledge which forms the platform for further investigations. It is therefore a very positive and desirable quality to have.

False knowledge or error may produce an erroneous conviction which demotivates the mind by removing all the desires for further knowledge or even entertaining viable alternatives. Error is defined as “the knowledge which does not lead to any successful action”. For example, it is impossible to fulfill the expectations created by hallucinations.

Causes of Saṃśaya

A conflicting judgment about the precise character of an object arises from the below mentioned four different arguments:

  1. Display of properties common to many objects
  2. Characteristics not common to any objects
  3. Conflicting testimony
  4. Irregularity of perception and non-perception

Types of Saṃśaya

The ideal world of thought must correspond to the outer reality in order to be considered true. The rules and methodology of nyāya are to be applied when doubt arises which necessitates to need to examine reality for confirmation or clarification of the truth. There are four kinds of doubt:

  1. Perception of common properties or failure to perceive the difference - It can be explained when in the dark a lamp-post may be mistaken for a person, or a coiled rope can be mistaken for a snake.
  2. Conflicting testimony of witnesses or news reports or differing opinions on the same subject by two or more people.
  3. Irregularity of perception - This concept is demonstrated when one is unable to determine whether water is perceived when it is seen in a pond where it actually exists or when it is seen in a mirage where it really does not exist. This possibility arises when on hearing the rustle of leaves in the bush there arises a doubt whether it is due to leaves or it could even be an animal or a human.
  4. Irregularity of non-perception - This is exemplified when one is unable to believe that something exists because it was never perceived through an object or thing with qualities as described. It also cannot be perceived through the inability to believe that such a thing exists like a kangaroo which is believed to be a big jumping rat.


यं अर्थं अधिकृत्य प्रवर्तते तत्प्रयोजनम् ।[15]
Yaṃ arthaṃ adhikṛtya pravartatē tat prayōjanaṃ।[16]

Prayojanam is a desire which impels one to act. Purpose serves as the motive behind all the action done to attain something pleasurable or to avoid something undesirable. Until there is a purpose, there can be no successful action; therefore, a wise person never engages in any kind of purposeless actions. It is also the purpose or motive which determines if an act is morally right or wrong. No act should be deduced as good or bad, it is the intention with which it is done that determines its moral character. Therefore sincere spiritual aspirants should always examine and reflect upon our motives and clarify the intent of actions performed.


लौकिकपरीक्षकाणां यस्मिनर्थे बुद्धिसाम्यं सः दृष्टान्तः।[17]
Laukikaparīkṣakāṇāṃ yasminnarthē budhdhisāmyaṃ saḥ dṛṣṭāntaḥ।[18]

When an expert and layman are of the same opinion this happens. It is also known as the familiar example which is a common observation of both common folk and experts. Both the scientists and laymen accepts the general proposition that whenever there is rain there must be clouds. This type of example can be used in the process of reasoning from the known to the unknown.


तन्त्राधिकरणाभ्युपगमसंस्थितिः सिद्धान्तः।[19]
Tantrādhikaraṇābhyupagamasaṃsthitiḥ sidhdhāntaḥ।[20]

Siddhānta philosophy is a conclusion that is recognized as being logically proven by a certain school of philosophy. There are four kinds of Siddhāntas:

  1. A commonly accepted truth is a tenet which is not opposed by any school of philosophy and which is claimed by at least one school; e.g. All the schools of Hindu philosophy accept earth, water, light, air and ether as the five base elements and smell, taste, color, touch and sound as the objects of the five senses.
  2. A peculiar truth is a tenet which is accepted by the similar schools, but rejected by the opposite schools. e.g., the 3 Abrahamic schools accepts that God created the world from nothing. All schools of Indian philosophy rejects this conclusion saying that something cannot come into existence out of nothing.[21]
  3. An implied truth is a tenet which is not explicitly declared, but are finalized on the basis of examination of the particulars concerning it. e.g., The discussion whether certain people should be allowed to vote implies that those people are capable of understanding and making political decisions.
  4. A consequential truth is a tenet which if accepted, leads to the acceptance of another tenet for e.g., the acceptance of the doctrine that there is a Self which is separate from the 5 senses, because it can recognize one and the same object by seeing and touching both. Hence it implies the following mentioned possibilities:
  • Senses are more than one.
  • Each of the senses has its particular characteristic.
  • Self derives its knowledge through the channels of the senses.
  • Substance which are distinct from its qualities is the locus of them.


प्रतिज्ञाहेतूदाहरणोपनयनिगमनानि अवयवाः।[22]
Pratijñā hētūdāharaṇōpanayanigamanāni avayavāḥ

Introduction to Avayavāḥ


अविज्ञाततत्वे अर्थे कारणोपपत्तितः तत्त्वज्ञानार्थं उहः तर्कः।[23]
Avijñātatvē arthē kāraṇōpapattitaḥ tatvajñānārthaṃ ūhaḥ tarkaḥ

Tarkaḥ is a process for ascertaining the real nature of a thing of whose character is not known. It is a method of arriving to the right conclusion by showing the absurdity of all the contrary ideas. Tarka is a method of attaining knowledge of the truth about an unknown or uncertain thing by comparing and then gradually eliminating all the competing suppositions; E.g. Is the Self a product or a non-Product? If the Self is a non-product, it will experience the result of its action and on the eradication of the causes of re-birth, will be released; therefore, re-birth and release are indeed possible. If it is a product, these chances would not be possible, because the Self's connection with the body, mind and senses will not be the result and experience of its own action.

The phenomenon of re-birth and release is very well known and established; therefore, the Self must be a non-product. This form of reasoning is also called as Confutation. This is not a method which ascertains, determines and verifies that the Self is a particular thing and nothing else. It simply eliminates all other contesting theories to the supposition it supports; after which truth is established through the application of other means of accurate knowledge. Hence, confutation is considered to be a supporting technique and is therefore mentioned separately.


विमृश्य पक्षप्रतिपक्षाभ्यां अर्थावधारणं निर्णयः।[24]
Vimṛśya pakṣapratipakṣābhyāṃ arthāvadhāraṇaṃ nirṇyaḥ

The removal of doubts and the resolution of a dispute by examining two opposite views is called as nirṇayaḥ. Dialectic is in the form of a dialogue between two people who may hold differing views, yet wish to establish the truth by seeking agreement with one another. This is in contrast to debate in which two or more people hold differing views and wish to persuade or prove one another wrong and thus a jury or judge is needed to decide the matter. The sequence of investigation is as follows:

  • First impression
  • Doubt arises
  • Examining the opposite view[25]
  • Application of logic
  • Determination of the controversy
  • Ascertainment of Truth[26]

Doubt is the result of first impression and gives impetus to investigation in order to ascertain the truth. “Ascertainment” is unnecessary in the case of direct perception or the verbal testimony of a trustworthy authority. But one must be convinced of the authority being trustworthy. In other words, everything should be questioned and not accepted simply because the person holds a degree or title. One must test that individual and once the authenticity is assured then only one can accept the statements without further investigation. Endlessly questioning for the sake of questioning is also not useful for coming to the accurate conclusion.


प्रमाणतर्कसादनोपालम्भः सिद्दान्ताविरुद्दः पंचावयवोपपन्नः पक्षप्रतिपक्षपरिग्रहो वादः।[27]
Pramāṇa tarkasādhanōpālaṃbhaḥ sidhdāntāvirudhdaḥ paṃcāvayavōpapannaḥ pakṣapratipakṣa parigrahaḥ vādaḥ

A dialogue in which one adopts one of two opposing positions is called as vādaḥ. The purpose of discussion is to come to the truth of the proposition under consideration. This may be achieved by talking about the topic with anyone who is a sincere seeker of truth. In vāda it is not necessary to establish one's own thesis, it is enough to submit one's views for examination in order to ascertain the truth. The discussion does not necessarily have to take into consideration the opposite opinion; it is enough to put any proposition to logical reasoning. The usual procedure is to maintain the thesis by means of right knowledge and to counter-thesis by the means of tarka.


यथोक्तोपपन्नः छलजातिनिग्रहस्थान साधनोपालम्भः जल्पः।[28]
Yathōktōpapannaḥ chalajātinigrahasthānōpālaṃbhaḥ jalpaḥ

A vigorous verbal disputation directed to gain victory in it is called as jalpaḥ. The sole purpose of engaging in a polemic is simply to gain victory over the other party. There’s no desire to either gain further knowledge or to establish one’s own position. Therefore, one can employ any device of debate in order to win. These devices are usually of a negative character, such as attacking the opponent’s character,[29] quibbling, advancing futile arguments, behave with absurdity, evading the issue, focusing on examples or metaphors rather than on the actual argument itself etc.


स प्रतिपक्षस्थापनाहीनः वितण्डा।[30]
Sa pratipakṣa sthāpanāhīnaḥ vitaṇḍā

A kind of wrangling, which consists in mere attacks on the opposite side is called as vitaṇḍā. In cavil there is no desire to establish any proposition. The only interest is to heckle the speaker by carping and offering frivolous objections. Polemics and caviling, which are considered as forms of discussion, may be used by an aspirant of truth only as means of protecting one's young and fragile knowledge which has not yet matured to a full blossomed conviction.


If one’s philosophy or belief system is under attack then one may also employ these negative means for self-defense. One should never gratuitously criticize or attack anyone else’s belief system, ideology or way of life if that person is keeping to themselves. When a person tries to impose their views on others then defense is required.


सव्यभिचारविरुध्द- प्रकरणसम- साध्यसम- कालातीताः हेत्वाभासाः।[31]
avyabhicāra virudhda prakaraṇasama sādhyasama kālātītā hētvābhāsāḥ

Introduction to Hētvābhāsāḥ


  • वचनविघातो अर्थविकल्पोपपत्या छलम्। 1-2-10
  • vacanavighātō arthavikalpōpapatyā chalaṃ



  • साधर्म्य वैधर्म्याभ्यां प्रत्यवस्थानं जातिः।1-2-18
  • sādharmya vaidharmyābhāṃ pratyavasthānaṃ jātiḥ



  • विप्रतिपत्तिरप्रतिपत्तिश्च निग्रहस्थानम्।1-2-19
  • vipratipattirapratipattiśca nigrahasthānaṃ



  1. It is also called as duḥkhaṃ in sanskrit.
  2. १.१.१
  3. 1.1.1
  4. Destruction of the final sorrow is mōkṣhaḥ according to nyāya
  5. १.१.३
  6. 1.1.3
  10. pravṛtti-samārthya
  11. १.१.९
  12. 1.1.9
  13. १.१.२३
  14. 1.1.23
  15. १.१.२४
  16. 1.1.24
  17. १.१.२५
  18. 1.1.25
  19. १.१.२६
  20. 1.1.26
  21. Ex nihilo nihilo fit
  22. १.१.३२
  23. १.१.४०
  24. १.१.४१
  25. It is called as pūrva pakṣa.
  26. It is called as nirṇaya.
  27. 1-2-1
  28. 1-2-2
  29. It is called as argumentum ad hominem.
  30. 1-2-3
  31. 1-2-4
  32. viparītā vā kutsitā vā pratipattiḥ